Composing R&B / Soul chord progressions

[Soulful-keys]

I am a keyboardist that loves to compose chord progressions. I try my best to avoid the typical numbered chords e.g. 2-5-1-6 etc. and go for the non-diatonic (borrowed) type chords.
The possibilities are endless once you move away from the structured theory.
However you do need to pay attention to the key changes once you use non-diatonics. If it's just one borrowed chord then you can remain in the given key. But two borrowed chords back to back may force a temporary key change.

I do have many to share at the link below. Let me know if you use any in your compositions.

Soulful-keys

 

[rob aylestone]

I listened and smiled. I'm not sure that you really avoiding the numbered chords or even really using non-diatonics. Many seemed to flow really nicely, but are just naatural progressions through a different sort of 'borrowing' that works for the sounds you have under your fingers. You're playing complex chords where the sounds have lots of harmonics which sort of lead you to the next chord, even if it's a strange choice - it works! Personally, I think you should just call yourself a composer, because most of thse work nicely - the guitar one is the weakest because I think I have that same vsti, and it is a bit formula based so some chord to chord movement doesn't work as well.
I like what I heard - although I don't think I could really explain how it actually gets 'labelled'.

 

[Soulful-keys]

I listened and smiled. I'm not sure that you really avoiding the numbered chords or even really using non-diatonics. Many seemed to flow really nicely, but are just naatural progressions through a different sort of 'borrowing' that works for the sounds you have under your fingers. You're playing complex chords where the sounds have lots of harmonics which sort of lead you to the next chord, even if it's a strange choice - it works! Personally, I think you should just call yourself a composer, because most of thse work nicely - the guitar one is the weakest because I think I have that same vsti, and it is a bit formula based so some chord to chord movement doesn't work as well.
I like what I heard - although I don't think I could really explain how it actually gets 'labelled'.

Thanks for the comment. The guitar one is bascially piano chords converted to guitar but of course the voicings would be a little different. It good for modern R&B where it can be layered over other instruments and effects.

 

[rob aylestone]

The clue was in the title 'Sunburst' - deluxe has a few seamless ones that work, but lots are just not as useful as you imagine when you try them.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

I had a listen.
I made a recording with a voice very similar to your 'Vivky Chords'.
There are so many preset voices on my keyboards, I'm spoilt for choice. Thats before I even get to tweeking pots.
Moving one or two fingers around is how I explore a keyboard.
To make a repeating chord sequence interesting, I would move a finger off-piste here and there, and that works.